Now I have an Alexandrian tetradrachm, finally, and another ancient to add to my tiny sampling of them in the Eclectic Box. It's also nice to have a Hadrian again, to soothe the pangs of seller's remorse over my sestertius. And I can now claim to have at least one Roman provincial coin. Roman Egypt: billon tetradrachm of Hadrian, Year 15 (130-131 AD); Hadrian receiving corn ears from Alexandria Obverse: AVT KAI TPAI AΔPIA CEB, laureate draped bust right. Reverse: L-IE, Hadrian standing at right, holding scepter, receiving corn ears from Alexandria. Koln 1026; Geissen 1026ff; Dattari 1267ff. L IE = year 15 = 130/131 AD. Ex-Arkadian Numismata, Switzerland, 1/2/2018. Wildwinds page
I transcribed part of the description from the Wildwinds listing, since the seller's listing was in German and had some terms and abbreviations that were unfamiliar to me. But... wouldn't that be Hadrian on the right? Edit- I decided to change it. *
Hadrian ON the right, looking TO the left. Beautiful coin! Hope the rest of the year brings many more such treasures.
BTW, @Roman Collector - I saw something on CNG and noticed you were high bidder, so I stood aside. Really there's just one particular lot that's caught my eye in the current auction, anyway, and it's a medieval. (My present margin of victory on it is quite thin...)
Naah, I've only got eyes for one coin in that auction, and if I get outbid on that one (which seems likely), there is other stuff on the agenda.
That OP coin refers to Hadrian's visit to Alexandria in 130 (L IE = year 15 = 130/1) on his grand tour of the empire. So, it fits as a provincial coin like his famous "travel series". Here is a denarius with the type of Alexandria: Hardian, 117-138. Denarius. 18 mm. Struck c. 136. ALEXANDRIA Alexandria standing holding sistrum (a religious rattle) and snake rising from basket. Sear II 3460. RIC 300.
